HiLite

HiLite

On March 5, French students celebrated Mardi Gras in their classes with a feast. The holiday signifies the day before the season of Lent. The celebration is associated with eating rich and fatty foods before giving them up the next day.
Andrea Yocum, chairperson of the world language department, said “In early March the French...

Last month, junior Korryn Reichard walked into her SRT room to grab her things, talking with her friends as they exited. While Reichard was at school, her father went to work but was not receiving a paycheck. Reichard’s...

The recent movie “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” utilized new technology in order to create a style of movie never seen before. The film combined computer animation and traditional hand-drawn comic book techniques. At this school, sophomore Jacob Renay-Lopes uses technology to express himself artistically.
Renay-Lopes utilizes Adobe softwares such as Photoshop and Illustrator to create art for clients about two to three times a month.
Renay-Lopes said, “I primarily do three types of art: digital paintings, graphic design and character...

The women’s swimming team has performed at a high level this entire season. After coming off of a strong win at Sectionals, they are looking to win the State Finals for the 33rd consecutive time.
“This is definitely one of the strongest teams we have had during my four years, everything just clicks and everybody is performing at a high level” Lauren Busha, varsity swimmer and senior, said.
Head...

As March is Developmental Disability Awareness Month, the Best Buddies Club is striving to spread awareness about developmental disabilities in general, as well as about students at CHS with developmental disabilities.
Anne Schuh, Best Buddies president and senior, said club members filmed a music video during SRT to the “Friends” theme song in order to match Best Buddies shirts this year, which are “Friends”-themed as well.
Schuh said, “We just took little clips of everyone showing their friendship in their own way in the video,...

Carmel fights against invasive species with EDDMapS app

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On March 11, Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation will host an informative event regarding the Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System (EDDMapS) open to the public at the Monon Community Center. Led by Natural Resources Coordinator Brittany McAdams, attendees will learn about the program and how to create an EDDMapS account.

EDDMapS is an online mapping system for tracking invasive species distribution. Users can submit their observations to the app, allowing for real-time tracking of invasive species. According to the EDDMapS website, by gathering mass data from throughout the nation, scientists will better understand their growth trends in order to come up with solutions to stop the spread of invasive species.

The use of the EDDMapS app is not the only step the state has taken against invasive species. Launched in late 2017, the Southern Indiana Cooperative Invasives Management (SICIM) and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) developed local Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMAs) in Indiana to combat invasive plants and raise awareness for their effects.

In regard to the upcoming event, the HiLite talked to Fran Rushing, AP Environmental Science teacher, and Ben Ring, Environmental Action Club co-president and junior to hear their perspectives on the fight against invasive species.

Q & A with Natural Resources Coordinator Brittany McAdams

How will the app help stop the spread of invasive species in our county?

Put simply, the more people looking, the more likely an invasive species will be detected and the sooner land managers can control the spread. EDDMapS creates a platform where the invasive species detection force can expand far beyond what land managers have been able to do previously. EDDMapS allows users to associate an invasive species sighting with a location, description of the infestation, pictures, and a contact who can then be contacted by land managers to gather more information about the sighting. This greatly increases our knowledge base about the presence and extent of invasive species, allowing land managers, property owners, and community members to take unifying action towards treatment and eradication of invasive species in our county.

Why has CCPR decided to host the event?

Time and time again we have seen an interest in our community toward conservation and environmental stewardship, especially in the parks. Invasive species management is an integral part of our job as park managers and using EDDMapS gives our community a platform to be environmental stewards in the effort on invasive species management. The benefits are endless to both the community and park managers who, through EDDMapS, are working together to build a sustainable future for our parks.

What are some of the characteristics of the app?

There are many desirable characteristics about this app, but the three that are essential to us are the ability to map invasive species in real time, to include photos in your report, and to share contact information. The first two gives us the basic data necessary to manage the invasion, but the third provides an opportunity to involve the identifier in the treatment and removal process.

Why is it important for the public to be aware of the issue of invasive species?

Invasive species are called ‘invasive’ because they have the ability to spread rapidly and outcompete native plants. Invasive species do not follow property lines, and an invasive species in a neighborhood can soon become an invasive species in the parks, and vice versa. One of the most effective things the public can do to prevent the spread is to buy and plant native species. Many landscaping plants are non-native, and become troublesome invasive species in the parks. A great example is Asian bush honeysuckle — once thought to be beneficial to wildlife — this plant has proven to be an aggressive invader with little nutritional value to wildlife. From a landscaping point of view, it provides excellent screening, but so do dogwoods, buttonbush, serviceberry, and spicebush, all of which are native plants with positive wildlife value. Having knowledge of the invasive species in your area, including landscaping plants, has huge implications for stopping invasive species from the introduction source.

Complete Q&A with Ben Ring, Environmental Action President and junior

Why are invasive species a threat to our environment?

Invasive species can be a serious threat to our environment depending on their ability to reproduce and thrive in a new area. For example, a certain plant is able to spread rapidly in a non-native area, it can ruin the ability of native plants to use the same resources to grow. Native plants are important in ecosystems, and can be threatened by these invasive species.

How has Environmental Action Club addressed the issue of invasive species in past meetings?

In our last EAC meeting, we had a guest speaker come out and talk about invasive species in our own community. The guest speaker was Amanda Smith, who works at Cool Creek Park. She gave a lot of great information about invasive species that affect our own lives and how they’re all around us, in many cases by design.

How can tracking the growth of invasive species help solve this problem?

By tracking the growth of invasive species, we can look at trends and be more effective at combating their spread and understanding them. When possible, cutting off an invasive species early on can be essential to maintaining control of them before they get out of hand. Tracking them through apps like EDDMapS can be really helpful in this way.

Should people be more aware of this issue?

I definitely think more people should be aware of invasive species in our own community. In many cases, homeowners unknowingly plant them in their yards because they think they look nice. While they might see it as making their home look nice while contributing to the environment, they can actually be doing more harm than good. Knowing what to avoid when buying plants can make a huge difference.

On March 11th, the Monon Center is hosting an event to get people signed up for this app and to learn more about how it works. Would you encourage people to attend this event?

“I think the event at the Monon Center seems like a great idea. Many people just aren’t aware of how widespread a problem invasive species are, and increasing awareness would be very valuable.”

Is there anything that I haven’t asked you that you would like readers to know?

“The biggest thing to be mindful of is choosing new plants to plant. We like to think of invasive species as animals or insects, but plants are one thing that we are usually responsible for. Just spending a few minutes to find out which plants are native and going for those can be very helpful at supporting the local ecosystem.”

Complete Q&A with Fran Rushing, AP Environmental Science teacher

What is an invasive species?

“The way that I define an invasive species is a species that is found in a particular system and it originally wasn’t there; it didn’t evolve in that space. It was brought in accidently or on purpose, which both instances have occured. It becomes invasive when it finds itself without predators or any environmental pressures that control its population size and is in its favorable environment. It will tend to grow its population size larger and that disrupts the other things that are a part of that system. They take up space and are using up vital resources so it is hurting those things that are naturally there.”

Why have government efforts toward controlling the spread of invasive species increased?

“Any invasive species can harm the natural ecosystem because if it finds itself in a favorable ecosystem and continues to grow, it’s going to end up using all the resources and maybe cause population sizes of things that should be (in the environment) to decline. When folks in the Department of Natural Resources, for instance, are trying to get rid of wild mustard, they are ultimately trying to preserve the ecosystem in its natural state as much as possible. If they let the invasive (species) to grow, it can damage that natural system.”

Why should people pay attention to the issue of invasive species?

“I don’t pay attention to (invasive species) as much I should around my own home and my own yard. I probably have some invasive species that I haven’t paid attention to but maybe I should.”

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2018-19 Photo of the Day

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Ceramics Wheels:
Junior Zach Devore spins his clay pot on the wheel in the ceramics 4 class on March 18. He said, “I enjoy this class because it isn’t stressful and I can listen to music while talking with my friends too.”

Men's Track and Field:
Samuel (Sam) Rogers, men's track runner and senior, completes a sprint during practice on March 19. The team's next contest will take them to Indiana University on March 23, where they will compete in the Hoosier State Relay Finals.

Chinese Culture:
Sophomore Owen Eckart listens to a presentation about the Chinese yo-yo during the NCHS's cultural immersion meeting after school on Mar 14, 2019. The NCHS has been hosting a multitude of Chinese cultural immersion presentations meant to spread an intrest in Chinese to anyone who would come to the meetings. In this specific meeting, headed by Treasurer Grace Hong, the history behind, and the way to use a Chinese yo-yo was shown. After the presentation, the guests were allowed to play with the yo-yos and discuss any other Chinese culture that they have experienced before.

Bring It On:
Sophomore Isabel Garcia practices her part in the upcoming school musical, on Mar 19, 2019. The upcoming musical is called "Bring It On" and is a musical that focuses on the competitive world of cheer-leading. The instructors, Kylie Barker and Samuel Chenoweth have been working with these students since Mar 4, and and the first showing of the musical will be on May 9 at 7 p.m.

Heightened Experience:
Tech theater student and sophomore Ben Outland works on cabling lights on March 18 for upcoming musical Bring It On which runs May 9-11. Outland said, “tech theater is a really fun time. After school you get to hang out with some of your friends and you just get to do cool stuff, like hanging up lights, wiring things, building things, and all that kinda stuff.”

Model Making:
Sophomore Bradley Snyder holds his model skeleton after learning about muscles on March 18 during Human Body Systems class. Model skeletons allow students to be able to hand make parts of the body. Snyder has a passion for science and aspires to be a doctor when he is older. Human Body Systems is one of the many science classes offered to sophomores at Carmel High School.

“Schoolmade” Pasta:
To start off the fourth quarter, junior Alexa Barreras makes fresh pasta in her foreign foods class on Mar. 18 along with the other members of her group. This lab prepared the class for their field trip next class.

A Foot Above The Rest:
John Micheal Mulloy, varsity basketball player and senior, holds the ball before attempting a layup during their game against Fort Wayne Dwenger High School on February 20. Mulloy is the tallest student on the Carmel High School basketball team. Mulloy will be attending Butler University for basketball in the fall of next year.

Body Building:
Sophomore Ayla Dimon creates muscles located on the human body out of clay to put on her Mannekin in her Human Body Systems class on March 15. Dimon says that they use the Mannekins to learn where different body parts and organs are located on the human body and it helps her visualize where everything is located in her head.

Weekend Ready:
Junior Emma Uber shows off her comedy skills on March 14 at the end of a math class. Students are typically allowed to pack their school bags and talk with friends during
last few minutes at the end of a class period. Uber says she loves to talk with her friends and make other people smile.

Art for the Community:
Lexi Carter, National Art Honor Society (NAHS) member and sophomore, works on a collaborative painting of lightning during a meeting on March 7. Carter said NAHS is a nationally organized club where students can apply to participate in art-centered projects to better their school and community.

Tassel:
Junior Jess Greven talks about the rules of being a TASSEL VSEE instructor on March 11th after school at the Carmel Clay Public Library. Greven used a Powerpoint presentation to better teach the newly recruited instructors.

Presentation Preparation:
Sophomore Mary Grace Jacko (front) works on her English presentation in her Honors English 10 class with her partner sophomore Ivy Nugent (back) on March 12. Jacko plans to take AP Seminar next year and is excited for this presentation as it is formatted similarly to an AP Seminar presentation.

Resource Time Rehearsal: Sophomores and Honors English 10 students, Abbey Grogan and Annie Surette, rehearse for their medical presentations the SRT before their class period. Honors English 10 students had spent the third quarter researching an issue in the medical field, and were then tasked with finding a solution to this problem. The concept of the presentation was based on the novel the students read, Brain on Fire, for the third quarter.

Comedysportz:
The Carmel Comedysportz team celebrates after the announcement that they have won their match on Feb 22 in the Carmel High School studio theater. The Comedysportz team participates in competitive improvisation games at local high schools, their next home match will be March 21 and 22 in the studio theater.

Impromptu Interviews:
CHTV reporter and junior Cameron Beteet records an interview for CHTV during SRT in the commons. Beteet moved the camera back and adjusted the settings to fit the interviewer and senior Ayanna Newhouse, interviewee and junior Emme Walschlager and interviewee and senior Charlie Hunter.

Ceramics Creates Celebrities:
Sophomore Natalie Hanna attempts to sculpt the face of the famous singer, Rihanna, in her ceramics 4 class. Each student in the class chose a celebrity they admire for this project to end the third quarter.

French Fun: During a game in French III on Feb. 21, Freshman Sarah Patel points to a possible answer choice on the board and whispers what she thinks the answer is to her partner, Sophomore Owen Gastineau. The objective of the game was to choose the right conduction of a verb in French and the team that won the most amount of points won a piece of candy.

SRT in the Studio: Senior and AP Studio Art student, Nate Burgess, spends his SRT working on and touching up his landscape painting. Burgess said he has been involved in art at CHS since his freshman year and created a variety of works.

Carmel Pep Band: Junior Julia Roth plays in CHS's pep band for the men's basketball Varsity game held on Feb. 15, 2019. CHS played against Warren High School and the game ended with a score of 69 to 52.. The Carmel Pep band plays in the breaks and intermissions of the game such as the beginning, timeouts, halftime, and at the end, playing songs such as Radioactive and Sweet Caroline.

Carnation Sales: NHS member and senior Sai Pothireddy sells carnations for Valentine's Day in the Main Cafeteria on Feb. 6 during lunch. Other volunteers in NHS have planned to pass out the carnations on Feb. 13 during SRT.

Smoothing the Edges: Freshman and Jewelry I student, Faith Knight, smooths the edges of her most recent project in SRT, January 28. Knight said that new jewelry students work on basic skills and apply them to their projects throughout the semester.

Accounting Assistance:
Carmel Cafe employee and junior Faith Adamson helps her fellow cashier Nina Hecht on the iPad in the Cafe on Jan. 23. The Carmel Cafe opens at 7:15 a.m. every morning and is available as a space for students to purchase drinks, cookies and enjoy a quiet place to relax or work on homework.

Class Award Cookies: Students grab refreshments after attending the Class Awards meeting during SRT on Jan. 17. Students received class awards from teachers for exemplary work during the second grading period.

Artistic Approach: Drawing 2 student and sophomore Colleen Sullivan works on a colored pencil drawing of her hand on Dec. 16. After the class completed several small sketches within the first few days of the semester, they moved on to planning their first major project, which featured foreshortening.

Friends in French: French teacher Mrs. Schmitt talks with CHS French club members in her classroom on Jan 15, 2019 after they turn in forms for going to the Congrès Competition on Feb 9. Angela Chen (far right), french club member and sophomore, said that for the competition the club will “go to another school and compete in some french related activities.”

Free Finals Period:
Sophomore Jacob Olekszyk plays Super Smash Bros on his Nintendo Switch during a free period on finals week. Some students who are required to attend school find themselves with free time during at least one of their testing periods. While some students utilize this time to study and get ready for the next final, some will use this time to sit back and relax from their finals to take the stress off their minds.

Utilizing Office Hours:
Sophomore Lucas Lu utilizes office hours to study for an upcoming final on December 20th 2018. Office hours are free periods of time in the morning from 7:00 to 11:45 where students can study and socialize. This allows for people to either get in a last preparation for classes or retake previous tests to help raise their grades.